The Washington County Sheriff's Office said deputies tried to corral a couple of bull elk for more than an hour Thursday morning because the animals were so large they believed they posed a danger to passing motorists.

"With a bull like that, people could die very easily if they hit that," said Sgt. Bob Ray, a sheriff's office spokesman.

About 9 a.m. deputies were dispatched to a report of elk running along U.S. 26 near Northeast Brookwood Parkway, Ray said. A deputy arrived on scene and spotted "two very large bull elk," Ray said.

The animals were running near Hillsboro Stadium, and authorities, for a short time, shut down the highway near Brookwood Parkway. While the highway was closed, one of the elk ran across and then north of the highway, Ray said.

The other elk, Ray said, kept hanging around the stadium. The animal then ran westbound into some fields south of Northwest Meek Road.

Elk, Ray said, are fast animals that maneuver through wooded areas "like a freight train." Police gave up the search about 10:10 a.m.